Arrow fletching apparatus



y 11, 1967 H. A. BITZENBURGER 3,330,551

ARROW FLETCHING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1964 67%, www

United States Patent 3,330,551 ARROW FLETCHING APPARATUS Henry A. Bitzenburger, 8920 Arrington Ave., Downey, Calif. 90240 Filed Nov. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 412,715 9 Claims. (Cl. 269-38) The present invention relates to the manufacture of arrows as used in archery, and more particularly to an apparatus for holding feathers, plastic sheets, or other vanes during the fletching process of securing the vanes on to an arrow. 2.

The operation of applying feathers or other vanes to an arrow, e.g. fletching an arrow, must be done with considerable precision to produce an accurate, smooth-shooting arrow. Generally, the fletching operation is performed on a jig that holds the arrow in various positions relative to a clamp which in turn holds the feather or other vane in the desired position on the arrow. In the past, a number of significant improvements have been accomplished in fletching jigs, one form of which is shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,337,080 issued Dec. 21, 1943, to the applicant. However, in general, prior clamps for holding the vane or feather have not been significantly changed over the years.

One of the problems in fletching arrows, involves avoiding any movement between the vane and the arrow after the desired positional relationship is accomplished. Therefore, it is exceedingly important that the clamp holding the vane provide unyielding support therefore, during the period while the adhesive is curing. Furthermore, prior fletching clamps have often taken forms in which adhesive accumulates on the clamp, thereby necessitating continual cleaning or periodic replacement.

Still another consideration in fletching arrows arises from the dsirability of feathers or vanes which are applied in a somewhat helical pattern, about the arrow, so as to impart rotation to the arrow while it travels through the air. The application of vanes or feathers in this manner normally presents considerable difliculty if prior fletching clamps are employed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrow-fletching apparatus which is not subject to these and other disadvantages of prior structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrow-fletching clamp which may be economically manufactured and conveniently employed to accurately fletch arrows.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fletching clamp for accurately and easily alfixing helical vanes or feathers to archery arrows.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved fletching clamp which is easily embodied in a rigid structure, and which may be conveniently used with less tendency to accumulate adhesive as it is used in the fletching operation.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a fletching clamp which may be readily manufactured with few component parts, and with excellent tolerances, by low-cost die casting techniques.

Brieffly these and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved in accordance with the structural features of one example of the invention which includes a pair of clamp members, each comprising a knife edge section and an opposed handle; which members are held together by a spring-biased pivotal structure urging the knife-edge sections together in a line contact. A plate of paramagnetic material is also set on one of the members to releasably fix the clamp structure to a jig. The clamp members may be die cast for economy and to accomplish a rigid structure.

Further details of these and other novel features of the present invention along with the ope-ration thereof, as well as additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and will be best understood from a consideration of 'the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are all presented by way of an illustrative example only; and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an exemplary form of arrow-fletching apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an arrow-fletching clamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is another FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the clamp of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate form of the clamp of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the figures in greater detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example only and for purposes of illustrative discussion and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be a useful and readily understood description of the principles and structural concepts of the invention. In particular, no attempt has been made to show structural details of the apparatus in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art of archery manufacture how the several forms of the invention may be constructed and embodied in practice. In addition, the detailed showing is not to be taken as a limitation upon the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims forming along with the drawings a part of this specification.

In FIGURE 1, a fletching jig 10 is shown with a clamp 12 fixed thereon. In general, an arrow is positioned and held in the jig 10 while -a feather or vane is fixed in the clamp 12. The clamp 12 is then placed next to' the arrow to position the feather or vane in the desired relationship, then adhesive is applied to secure the vane to the arrow. After the adhesive has cured, the clamp 12 is released and removed from the vane and the jig 10. Thereafter, the arrow may be revolved for the placement of another vane or feather adjacent the rear or nock end thereof.

A wide variety of different jig structures may 'be employed in cooperation with the clamp 12 and one specific form of such structure is described in the above-referenced patent; however, in general, an exemplary form of such structures incorpoartes a pair of magnets 14 for magnetically holding the clamp 12 in position on the jig 10. The magnets 14 are mounted in a plane angularly offset from the vertical so as to be somewhat parallel to the arrow as provided in a position indicated by the line 16 with the rear, or nock end held in a nock receiver housing 18. The magnets as Well as the arrow and the nock receiver housing 18 are supported upon a frame 20 integrally formed with a stand 22.

7 Considering the clamp in greater detail, separate clamp members 24 and 26 (FIGURE 4) are pivotally mounted over a pair of bearing balls 28 positioned somewhat concentrically under slotted cylindrical springs 30. That is, the springs 30 are positioned about edges 31 and 33- of the mated clamp members 24 and 26 so as to urge the jaws of the clamp members closed. The jaws of the clamp are formed by a pair of flat plates 32 and 34 carrying knife perspective view of the clamp of of the clamp of edges 36 and 38 respectively.

Integrally formed with each of the plates 32 and 34 are matingly opposed handles 40 and 42 extending away from the knife edges 36 and 38 respectively. The handles 40 and 42 are each joined to the plates 32 and 34 respectively by corner sections 44 and 46 formed to offset the handles from the plates, thereby providing an increased space between handles 40 and 42 which facilitates opening the clamp, and also enables the clamp to be opened to a greater degree.

The handles 40 and 42 are of a somewhat elliptical form and are generally fiat, except for hollow recesses 48 and 50 provided with checking 52 (FIGURE 2) to facilitate use of the clamp. As disclosed herein, the handles 40 and 42 are die cast integral with the plates 32 and 34 respectively to provide the individual clamp members integral and very rigid.

The plates 32 and 34, though generally similar to provide mating surfaces, are somewhat distinct. The plate 34 carries a small rectangular sheet insert 54 of paramagnetic material. The insert 54 serves in cooperation with the magnet 14 (FIGURE 1) for affixing the clamp 12 to the jig 10. The exterior surfaces of the plates 32 and 34 are also somewhat differently faced, as while the plate 32 (FIGURE 2) carries an elongate ridge 56 extending substantially its full length and a cast scale 58 adjacent one end of the plate, the plate 34 (FIGURE 3) incorporates a substantially rectangular, three-sided frame 60 in the form of a ridge about the rectangular insert 54. The frame 60 serves as a guide in positioning the clamp on the jig 10 in locking engagement with the magnets 14.

Considering the plates 32 and 34 further, it is to be noted that they are not symmetrical about the handles 40 and 42. That is, the upper ends 62 (FIGURE 2) of the mating plates extend away from the mating handles to a greater distance than the lower ends 64 of the plates. As a result, the handles 40 and 42 as Wellas the insert 54 are substantially offset from the center of the jaws or knife edges 36 and 38 of the clamps. This offset results in better balance in using the clamp structu're.

Another distinction between the upper ends 62 and the lower ends 64 is the provision of steps 66 at the tips of the lower ends 64, contiguous to the scale 68. The steps 66 include edges both perpendicular and parallel to the knife edges 36 and 38 and are provided so that the rear end of the feather or vane may be seen and easily aligned and positioned on the arrow.

In the manufacture of the clamp as disclosed herein, the clamp members 24 and 26 may be die cast of various alloys in accordance with various well known manufacturing techniques. The insert 54 may be cast in position in the member 26 or set therein after casting. Next, the balls 28 are positioned in recesses 68 (FIGURE and the cylindrical springs 20 are affixed over the ends of the plates 32 and 35 so that the ends of the springs abut the containing ridge 70 as shown in FIGURE 5. Thus, the clamps may be manufactured with relatively little assembly, inexpensively and by using generally well known production techniques.

In using the structure as disclosed, an arrow shaft is placed in the jig set in accordance with the guides provided and with the nock end dwelling in the nock housing 18 in preparation to receive a feather or vane. The feather or other vane V is then trimmed as desired and placed between the jaws of the clamp (plates 32 and 34) as shown in FIGURE 4. In this regard, it is to be noted, that as the plates 32 and 34 close, the knife edges 36 and 38 as shown in FIGURE 6 provide a line contact to firmly hold the vane V. This feature results in less tendency of the clamp to accumulate adhesive.

With the vane V fitted as desired into the clamp as shown in FIGURE 6, the clamp is fixed onto the fietching jig by mating the paramagnetic insert 54 with the magnets 14 so that the vane edge lies precisely against an arrow A as shown, so that the adhesive may be easily applied and cure to accomplish a permanent bond. Thereafter, other vanes may be applied to complete the arrow.

In some instances, it is desirable to provide helical or spiral vanes or feathers on an arrow. This form of vane may be simply and easily provided by using a clamp of the present invention as shown in FIGURE 7 in which the 5 clamp members 78 and 80 are twisted along the knife edges 82 through an angle of some 70 degrees. That is, the knife edges 82 in mating relationship provide the jaws of a clamp that twists or revolves through angular displacement in a smoothly continuous fashion from their upper ends to their lower so as to extend from one plane to another. In general, the clamp members 78 and 80 may be cast just as the previously described clamp members however employing a different mold form. The clamp structure of FIGURE 7 also incorporates a block 84 of paramagnetic material which mates with the spiral surface of the clamp member 78 and provides an opposed plane surface 86 to engage the magnets 14 as previously described. Therefore the plane surface 86 may be considered somewhat of a reference about which the knife edges 82 are variously angularly displaced. In other aspects, the helical clamp as shown in FIGURE 7 is identical to the straight clamp as shown in the other figures.

Thus, it is apparent that the structure hereof may be embodied in a clamp easily usable for forming either straight or helical vanes or feathers on archery arrows. Furthermore, the clamp may be easily used and inexpensively manufactured.

There thus has been disclosed an example of an arrow fietching clamp which achieves the objects and exhibits the advantages as set forth hereinabove.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for use in cooperation with an arrowfietching apparatus, which includes a magnetic holder, comprising:

a mating pair of knife-edge, face opposing members one end of each defining a step indented from the knife edges;

pivotal spring-biased clamp means including a pair of opposed lever handles individually integral with said knife-edge members, for spreading said members; and

a paramagnetic element insertedly fixed to one of said knife-edge members for cooperation with said magnetic holder.

2. A clamp for use in cooperation with an arrowfietching apparatus, which includes a magnetic holder, comprising:

a first integrally-cast clamp member, including a first knife-edge section and a first canted handle removed therefrom;

a second integrally-cast clamp member, including a second knife-edge for opposing said first knife edge and a second canted handle removed therefrom;

pivot means for affixing said first and second clamp members in facing relationship and including spring means for urging said first and second handles apart and from said first and second knife edges together; and

a paramagnetic plate inset in one of said integrally-cast clamp members for cooperation with said magnetic holder.

3. A clamp for use in cooperation with an arrowfietching apparatus, which includes a magnetic holder, comprising:

a first integrally-cast clamp member, including a first knife-edge section and a first canted handle removed therefrom, which first knife-edge sections extends from one plane to another plane;

a second integrally-cast clamp member, including a second knife-edge for opposing said first knife edge and a second canted handle removed therefrom;

pivot means for afiixing said first and second clamp members in facing relationship and including spring means for urging said first and second handles apart and said first and second knife edges together; and

a paramagnetic plate inset in one of said integrally-cast clamp members for cooperation with said magnetic holder.

4. A clamp in accordance with claim 3 wherein said knife-edge members each define an indented step at one end thereof to provide an edge perpendicular the knife edges.

5. A clamp in accordance with claim 3 wherein at least on of said knife-edge members carries a graduated scale extending from one end of the knife edge.

6. A clamp for use in cooperation with an arrowfletching apparatus, which includes a magnetic holder, comprising:

a first integral clamp member including a first knifeedge section integral with a first oifset handle;

a second integral clamp member including a second knife edge section integral with a second offset handle, said first and second clamp members being matingly defined for facing relationship;

at least one pivotal spacer positioned between said clamp members;

at least one spring means for urging said clamp mem bers about said pivotal spacer whereby to spread said handles and join said knife-edge sections; and

a paramagnetic plate inset in one of said integral clamp members for cooperation with said magnetic holder.

7. A clamp for use in cooperation with an arrowfietching apparatus, which includes a magnetic holder, comprising:

a first integral clamp member including a first knifeedge section extending continuously from one plane to another, and a first handle integral with said first knife-edge extending away from said first knife edge section;

a second integral clamp member, including a second knife-edge section extending continuously from one plane to another to matingly receive said first knifeedge second, and a second handle integral with said second knife-edge section, extending away from said second knife-edge section;

at least one pivotal spacer positioned between said clamp members;

at least one spring means for urging said clamp members about said pivotal spacer whereby to spread said handles and join said knife-edge sections; and

a paramagnetic plate inset in one of said integral clamp members for cooperation with said magnetic holder.

8. A clamp according to claim 7 wherein said first and second handles are offset relative to the center of said knife edges.

9. A clamp according to claim 8 wherein at least one of said clamp members includes a scale extending away from one end thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,286,574 6/1942 Rohde 269-3 8 2,3 37,080 12/ 1943 Bitzenburger 269-3 8 3,028,158 4/1962 Ble'ase 269-3 8 WILLIAM W. DYER, 111., Primary Examiner. W. D. BRAY, Assistant Examiner. 

